Positive final Moto2 pre-season test for PETRONAS Sprinta Racing

2020-03-02 13:09
It’s been a positive final Moto2 pre-season test for PETRONAS Sprinta Racing riders Xavi Vierge and Jake Dixon at Losail International Circuit, Qatar. The pair have enjoyed good weather for the three days and are now focused on the first race of the year next weekend.

In order to save tyres and wait for conditions more aligned to those that will be experienced in the race, Vierge sat out of the first session of the day. Using the final two sessions to focus on long-run pace with used tyres, Xavi was able to rack up the laps and ensure he has the optimal setup for the 5.4km long circuit. In total Xavi completed 39 laps today, the fastest of which was a 1min 59.092secs and saw him finish the day eighth – 11th across the three days.

Team-mate Dixon was able to complete the three days, with the injury to his finger only being a mild inconvenience to him. The Brit worked his way through the scheduled testing programme and was focused on what he would need for the first race of the season. He managed 45 laps with his Triumph-powered Kalex machinery and ended the final day 27th with a time of 2mins 0.296secs. In the overall standings for the three-day test he also finished 27th.

There will be no rest for the PETRONAS Sprinta Racing Moto2 squad as they prepare for the first race of the season at Losail International Circuit, Qatar, next weekend (6-8 March).






Johan Stigefelt
Team Director





With Xavi we have been working on the setup from Jerez, which was already good, so just trying to fine-tune it and do long runs, making the tyres last. We found some good settings along the way here, which is good. We were not at the front of the standings with the time-attack but if you look at the times we are very close, so it’s not an issue right now. The most important things were to work on Xavi’s feeling with the bike and improve the bike all the time, which we’ve done. I’m really pleased with this pre-season testing with Xavi and we’re ready for the first race next weekend.

With Jake it was a bit more complicated because we have his injury from Jerez, so he came here not 100% fit. His task was coming back and getting a good feeling. We made some improvements on day one, he struggled a bit on day two and then today we’ve tried a few different things with his bike. He needs to get used to these changes and just get his knowledge up and ride. I’m sure for the race weekend he will be a lot stronger and now we’re ready for the year.

Source: SIC Racing Team

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